Concentration of pesticides in the water, sediments and oysters of the Bluefields´Lagoon, RAAS, Nicaragua

Abstract

In the basins of the rivers Escondido and Kukra River of Nicaragua considerable amounts of pesticides are used for land and cattle activities. These come together in the Bluefields’ Lagoon, mainly through the water draining. With the purpose of identifying the environmental risk to which the lagoon system and the human population are exposed, a sampling system was established to determine the concentrations of pesticides in the water, sediments and oysters. The results support the growing concern for the contamination of rivers, coastal lagoons and fish banks of the Nicaraguan Caribbean Sea and the necessity of generating information about the existing degree of contamination. This should help to determine the sources and develop adequate strategies aimed to reduce the draining of pesticides to this region.